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Denver Comic Con 2016 Preview

We’re one day away from the fifth annual Denver Comic Con! This year, we have new faces joining us as writers, adding to our little band of fancy-pants nerds. Denver Comic Con has EXPLODED in the last few years, featuring more celebrities and more programming. Saturday tickets have sold out, so you can guarantee a packed house this year. In preparation for the Con, we’re going to be highlighting the guests that will be coming and the panels that we’ll be checking out. We’ll be writing live from the event, so if there is anything crazy happening, you’ll hear it straight from us, Hush Comics!

It was so difficult for us to narrow down the list of things we want to do. If it were up to us, we’d do everything, but with we will be able to cover a lot of ground. That doesn’t mean we can do everything (or does it??), but we will try. Here’s a list of the stops we absolutely have to make:

Guests:

Who’s who in Comics?

When you think about the draw of a comic book convention, the first thing that comes to mind may perhaps be… comic books! This year, some of the industry’s most established and celebrated creators. Headlining this year’s Denver Comic Con is Stan “The Man” Lee. One of the most recognizable names in the biz, period, Stan Lee is just as much a superhero in his own right as the dozens of characters he helped Jack Kirby create over 50 years ago. This is going to be Lee’s first and last appearance at Denver Comic Con, so don’t miss out! Other celebrated talent includes: John Romita Jr. (Kick-Ass, Superman), J. Scott Campbell (Amazing Spider-Man), Tim Sale(The Long Halloween), Georges Jeanty(Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Jae Lee (Batman/Superman), and Black Science‘s Matteo Scalera.

Rebirth of a Nation

For the first time in a long time, DC Comics is putting out some pretty cool stories across the board. The Rebirth movement is still in its infancy, and is promising a giant showdown between the DC Universe as we know it, and Alan Moore’s Watchmen. Some of DC’s best are joining the Con, with Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund(Titans: Rebirth), and our personal favorite, Yanick Paquette (Swamp Thing, Wonder Woman: Earth One).

Hollywood Hunks

Denver Comic Con presents: Hollywood Hunks! And boy, are there quite a few.

Let’s start out with Ian Somerhalder, star of The Vampire Diaries as Damon Salvatore. Somerhalder also had roles in Lost and Smallville, not to mention a role in your dreams. Somerhalder will be at DCC Saturday only. Up next is Paul Wesley, also starring in The Vampire Diaries as Stefan Salvatore. Wesley’s other series include 24 and Everwood. You can find him at the con Sunday only.

Staying with The CW hunks, we have Manu Bennett. You know him as Deathstroke on Arrow and Allanon on The Shannara Chronicles. Bennett is no noob to the nerd-world; he has had roles in Spartacus, 300, and The Hobbit. He will be at Denver Comic Con all weekend.

John Barrowman’s appearance alone might cause chaos. If you were to say anyone knows how to do comic con, it is John Barrowman. His many roles include: Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood, Malcolm Merlyn in Arrow and The Flash, and Munro in Reign. His personality is contagious, so his panels are a must-see. You can find him at DCC Saturday and Sunday only.

Karl Urban has been teasing us Denverites for a few years now, and he is finally here. Urban has had roles in Star Trek, Dredd, Almost Human, Xena: Warrior Princess, Lord of the Rings, and Chronicles of Riddick. So, you know… really nerdy stuff. Be sure to catch him on Saturday and Sunday.

Finally, with the last minute announcement, we have Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Morgan’s latest role as Negan in The Walking Dead has already made people lose their brains. Morgan also starred in The Watchmen as The Comedian. He appeared in Batman v Superman as Thomas Wayne. Additionally, he starred in The Losers as Clay. Morgan’s other projects include P.S. I Love You, Grey’s Anatomy, and Jonah Hex. He will be at the con Sunday only, so make some time for this special treat!

Ralph Macchio

Ralph Macchio inspired a generation to join a dojo and beat the bad guy. His starring role as Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid franchise is classic. Macchio’s other famous projects include The Outsiders, My Cousin Vinny, and Ugly Betty. He will be at Denver Comic Con all weekend, so make sure to go show him your best crane pose!

VeryHonorable Mentions:

Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter)Lena Headey (Game of Thrones)Sphero (creators of the BB-8 droid)See all the special guests here.

Programming:

Anniversaries!

It started recently with Superman’s 75th in 2013, but the comic book industry as a whole is repeatedly hitting huge milestones that most franchises could only dream of. This year, DC is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of The Flash and the 75th Anniversary of Wonder Woman. Meanwhile, Marvel is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of their pride and joy, Captain America – who may or may not have been a Nazi all along.

Comic books are great, but it takes a whole other level of nerd to enjoy the Star Trek 50th Anniversary. Whether you are Team Picard or Team Janeway, this panel should bring Trekkies together.

Minoriteam Values

Through graphic novels, voiceless people have now been getting all sorts of exposure through the medium. The little guy can become heard, and the world benefits from getting a better perspective of what it’s like to be an outlier. There are so many panels and groups built for LGBTQ community, ethnic minorities, and the de-marginalization of females in an industry where the landscape of acceptance and community is continually changing. The panel we’re looking forward to the most is Panama Soweto’s “So You Want To Write Nerd Poetry” panel. The Dynamic Duo panel he ran last year was fantastic!

Comics in the Classroom

Part of what makes Denver Comic Con very special is its part in educating youth. DCC is put on by Pop-Culture Classroom, a non-profit organization that put together a curriculum for students called “Storytelling through Comics.” You can read more about that here! Pop-Culture Classroom will host several panels this weekend, too. Some of our favorites include: Cosplay in the Classroom, Pop Culture Pedagogy, and Teaching WWII with Comics. Check out the schedule of events on the Pop-Culture Classroom app to get full details!

Outside the Con

Mile High Comics Pre-Party

Denver Comic Con looks to have 100,000 guests. Yes, you read that correctly. Seventy-five THOUSAND. That’s just over half of the 130,000 capacity at San Deigo Comic Con (the world’s largest) and larger than Emerald City Comic Con. That being said, you definitely want to grab your badge before you get to the convention center. There’s no better way to do that than attend Mile High Comic’s Denver Comic Con launch party. While you wait, peruse the largest comic book warehouse IN THE WORLD. Meet legendary artists like Jim Shooter and Steve Lieber and mingle with other nerds about the world’s fastest-growing Comic Con. More details here. THIS HAPPENS TONIGHT!

Denver PrideFest

Another amazing event going on in Denver this weekend is PrideFest. Need to get a breather from the Con, but also have a blast? PrideFest is the place to go! There will be music, food, drink, and loads of fun. PrideFest will be held at Civic Center Park, and may be the only place in Denver you can go dressed in Cosplay and not get a few strange looks.

Denver Comic Con info can be found by downloading the Pop Culture Classroom app. It’s a pretty seamless app, so hopefully it will be helpful.

Going to Denver Comic Con? Have any topics you want us to cover while we’re there? Have any tips about Denver in general? We want to hear it!